New Release Spotlight & Guest Post: Hattie Goes to Hollywood by Caroline James

Hattie Goes to Hollywood by Caroline James

Ellesea, thank you so much for hosting me on your blog. As my new novel, Hattie Goes To Hollywood, is launched, I want to share my thoughts on older protagonists having lead character roles.

I often write about older people in my novels and in my new novel, Hattie Goes to Hollywood, the lead character, Hattie, is a private investigator who is in her late 50s.

She is a ‘Baby Boomer.’

Baby boomers are people born during the post WWII baby boom and their current ages are 50-72. I’m a baby boomer and we are supposed to be the wealthiest, most active and physically fit generation in history, all currently reaping the benefits of a good lifestyle that peak levels of income bring. Baby boomers are said to be the luckiest generation having benefitted from free education, a buoyant job market and inherited property windfalls amongst other advantages.

But are they all so lucky?

Alcohol studies state that baby boomers, who grew up with more liberal attitudes to alcohol, are ruining their health with heavy home drinking and with the current financial uncertainties and pension crisis, many boomers fear for their future and find themselves working way beyond their estimated pension age. Western culture suggests that we become invisible to the younger generation as we get older. Middle agers are susceptible and can feel that they are no longer attractive nor have the confidence of their youth. None of this represents the picture that many baby boomers expected to paint in their middle years and beyond.

For me, growing older has never been more fun. I believe that we are able to be the best that we can at every stage of our life and that ageing means being comfortable in your own skin. Coming out of your comfort zone is daunting. Doing it at this time of life is doubly hard but I have found that stepping out of your day to day and testing new waters generates the energy to recharge your creative batteries.

With this in mind, I want to write novels that are uplifting for older and younger readers alike and to show that life can be wonderful as you age. Fictionally, if my characters can dodge the daunting media hype and face the ageing process with enthusiasm, they can embrace it. I hope that the personalities in Hattie Goes To Hollywood, reflect these thoughts. Especially Hattie, as she comes out of her comfort zone and starts a new career as a private investigator. I hope too that my books will encourage readers to embrace life, at whatever age.

Many thanks again Ellesea and happy reading to you and your followers,

Caroline xx

A Cumbrian Village...
Three suicides...
A red-hot summer...

Join super-sleuth Hattie as tempers and temperatures rise in the Cumbrian village of Hollywood. With mischief and shenanigans aplenty, will Hattie discover the truth?

A funny and intriguing mystery – the first in a new series by Caroline James

When recently bereaved Hattie Mulberry inherits her aunt’s dilapidated cottage in the village of Hollywood in Cumbria, she envisages a quiet life. But retired hotelier Hattie is bored and when her neighbour asks her to investigate a suspicious suicide, Hattie’s career takes a new direction and H&H Investigations is born. During the hottest summer for years, Hattie discovers there have been three recent suicides in Hollywood and she determines to find out why. Temperatures rise as she throws herself into village life and, with mischief and shenanigans aplenty, Hattie has her work cut out. But will she establish the truth?

Amazon UK      Amazon US 

Best-selling author of women’s fiction, Caroline James has owned and run businesses encompassing all aspects of the hospitality industry, a subject that often features in her novels. She is based in the UK but has a great fondness for travel and escapes whenever she can. A public speaker, which includes talks and lectures on cruise ships world-wide, Caroline is also a consultant and food writer. She is a member of the Romantic Novelist’s Association, the Society of Women’s Writer’s & Journalists and the Society of Authors and writes articles and short stories, contributing to many publications. In her spare time, Caroline can be found trekking up a mountain or relaxing with her head in a book and hand in a box of chocolates.

Books by Caroline James:

Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me

Coffee Tea the Chef & Me

Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me

Jungle Rock

The Best Boomerville Hotel

Hattie Goes to Hollywood

Website: www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

Twitter: @CarolineJames12

Facebook: Caroline James Author

Amazon Author Page

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